Sun-visor of a vehicle equipping an occupant restraint system

ABSTRACT

The present invention is provided for achieving the certain inflation of the air bag irrespective of the position of the sun-visor. For attaining this object, there is provide a sun-visor provided in a vehicle comprising a sun-visor body, a shaft, and low strength region. The sun-visor body is used for blocking off the outside light. One end of the shaft is inserted into the sun-visor body and another end of the shaft is rotatably supported at the roof of the vehicle through the base. The shaft has a L-like shape and has a low strength part formed by giving heat treatment to the shaft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of The Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a sun-visor provided in a vehicle equipping an occupant restraint system.

[0003] 2. Prior Art

[0004] In the vehicle, conventionally, a sun-visor, which is used as sunshade by passengers seating on the driver seat or the passenger seat, is equipped. This sun-visor is composed of a shaft and a sun-visor body. The sun-visor body is used for blocking off the outside light. One end of the shaft is supported at the roof of the vehicle and another end thereof is inserted into the sun-visor body.

[0005] The sun-visor is normally dabbed against the roof, and is swung around the shaft at the time of using. When the sun-visor is swung to the windshield side, since the passing through of the outside light is prevented by the sun-visor body, the sun-visor plays a roll of sunshade.

[0006] When the sun-visor body is pivoted to the side door side from this location, the sun-visor is served as the sunshade for preventing the passing through of the outside light shining from the side direction. At that time, the sun-visor is placed along the window of the side door so as to be in parallel with respect to the window of the side door.

[0007] In the vehicle, furthermore, an occupant restraint system for protecting the passengers from the side-face impact etc may be provided.

[0008] As an example of such types of the occupant restraint system, an inflatable curtain apparatus can be given. In the inflatable curtain apparatus, an air bag is stored ranging over the regions from the front pillar to a rear pillar through a roof side rail of the vehicle. This air bag is quickly inflated when the operation of the inflatable curtain apparatus is demanded.

[0009] When the air bag stored in the roof side rail is inflated, for example, since the inflated air bag pushes open the roof-garnish into the vehicle cabin, the space is formed between the roof-garnish and the roof side rail. Thus, the air bag is sprung out through the space and is inflated downwardly along the windows of the side door.

[0010] When the inflatable curtain apparatus is made into operation while using the sun-visor for blocking off the outside light shining from the side direction, in other wards, the sun-visor is positioned along the window of the side-door, the inflating characteristic of the air bag may be changed. To be more precise, the inflating direction and range of the air bag is changed by the sun-visor, and the role of the air bag cannot be fully achieved.

[0011] When the roof-garnish pushed open by the inflation of the air bag is bumped against the sun-visor body of the sun-visor, since the displacement of the roof-garnish is interfered by the sun-visor, the space formed for allowing the inflation of the air bag becomes narrow. Thus, the inflation of the air bag toward the vehicle cabin may be prevented. When the sun-visor body of the sun-visor is positioned on the inflating orbit of the air bag, furthermore, the inflation of the air bag may be prevented by the sun-visor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention aim at ensuring the inflation of the air bag irrespective of the position of the sun-visor.

[0013] For attaining these problems, there is provided a sun-visor provided in a vehicle equipping an occupant restraint system for protecting the occupant from the side-impact, said sun-visor comprising; a sun-visor body disposed in a cabin of said vehicle and is used for blocking off the outside light; a shaft, one end of said shaft is rotatably supported at a base fixed to the roof of said vehicle, and another end of said shaft is inserted into said sun-visor body, and said shaft has a curved part on the region exposed from said sun-visor body and said base; and a low strength region provided on about said curved part; whereby said shaft is situated so as to be deformed when said occupant restraint system is operated.

[0014] According to the sun-visor having these constructions, the shaft is deformed at the low strength region when the occupant restraint system is operated. To be more precise, the space for allowing the inflation of the air bag stored in the occupant restraint system is secured because the sun-visor is easily deformed by the roof-garnish 14 pushed out by the inflated air bag. Thus the certain inflation of the air bag is achieved irrespective of the position of the sun-visor.

[0015] In the present invention, preferably, said low strength region is a notching formed on said curved part of said shaft. According to the present invention, the certain deformation of the shaft can be achieved because the excess load, which is brought out from the operation of the occupant restraint system and is add to the sun-visor, is concentrated on the notching of the curbed part 17 c.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is an explanation view showing the construction of the car cabin to which the sun-visor according to the present invention is disposed.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the line X-X in FIG. 1.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing the construction of the sun-visor according to the present embodiment.

[0019]FIG. 4 is an explanation view showing the condition that the sun-visor is used for blocking off the outside light shining from the side direction.

[0020]FIG. 5 is a explanation view showing the operating condition of the occupant restraint system.

[0021]FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view showing the another construction of the sun-visor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Preferred Embodiment

[0022] The explanation about the first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be carried out referring to the attached drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanation view showing the vehicle cabin equipping the occupant restraint system. FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the line X-X of FIG. 1 showing the condition of having rotated the sun-visor. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is an explanation view showing the sun-visor under using condition. FIG. 5 is an explanation view showing the inflated condition of the air bag.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, a car body construction of a vehicle 1 is composed of a floor 2, a roof 3, a front pillar 4, a center pillar 5, a rear pillar 6, and a roof side rail 7. A seat 8 and a sun-visor 15 etc are accommodated in this car body construction.

[0024] In the present embodiment, the sun-visor 15 is capable of blocking off the outside light (sunlight etc) shining from the front or side direction with respect to the vehicle 1.

[0025] In the vehicle 1 having these constructions, an inflatable curtain apparatus 9 shown in the broken line of FIG. 1 is equipped. The inflatable curtain apparatus 9 has a cover 10 disposed ranging over the region from the front pillar 4 to the rear pillar 6 through the roof side rail 7. As shown in FIG. 2, an air bag 11 is stored in the cover 10 by the folded condition. An inflator 23 for supplying the gasses to the air bag 11 is accommodated within the rear pillar 6.

[0026] The arranging manner of the air bag 11 and the cover 10 will be carried out referring to FIG. 2.

[0027] The roof side rail 7, to which the air bag 11 and the cover 10 are fixed, is composed of an inner member 7 a, an outer member 7 b, and a center member 7 c. The inner member 7 a is an inner blanket. The outer member 7 b is the blanket placed in the most outer side. The center member 7 c is the blanket placed between the inner member 7 a and the outer member 7 b.

[0028] Top end part of the roof side rail 7 is joined to the roof 3. Bottom end part of the roof side rail 7 is engaged into a weather-strip 13. The weather-strip 13, to which the inner member 7 a, the outer member 7 b, and the center member 7 c, are engaged, respectively, is joined to the side-door. In the roof side rail 7 of this construction, the air bag 11 and the cover 10 are attached to the inner member 7 a by the bolt 12 etc, respectively.

[0029] The explanation about the construction and the function of the sun-visor 15 according to the present embodiment will be carried out referring to FIG. 2 through FIG. 5.

[0030] First, the explanation about the construction of the roof 3, by which the sun-visor 15 is supported, will be carried out. The roof 3 is composed of an inner member 3 a, an outer member 3 b, and a roof-garnish 14. The inner member 3 a, which is an inner blanket, and the outer member 3 b, which is the blanket placed in the most outer side, are joined to the roof side rail 7, respectively.

[0031] Tip part of the roof-garnish 14 is attached to the weather-strip 13. The roof-garnish 14 is established so as to be deformed in the state shown in the imaginary line (two-dot chain line) ,when the air bag 11 is inflated and the force (load) toward the car cabin is added to the roof-garnish 14.

[0032] The sun-visor 15 supported at the roof 3 is composed of a sun-visor body 16, a shaft 17, and a base 18. The sun-visor body 16 is used for blocking off the outside light shining from outside. The shaft 17 is inserted into the sun-visor body 16 and has L-shaped figure. The base 18 is used for roratably supporting the shaft 17 at the roof 3.

[0033] A notching 16 a is formed on the sun-visor body 16, and part of the shaft 17 inserted into the sun-visor body 16 is exposed thereat.

[0034] The exposed part of the shaft 17, in other word, the part just in positioned at the notching 16 a, is engaged with a mounter 19 fixed at the roof-garnish 14. As a result of the existence of the mounter 19, the keeping of the position of the sun-visor 15 and the swing of the sun-visor body 16 are achieved with ease.

[0035] The shaft 17 is bent into the L-shape. In this shaft 17, one side having a longer entire length from the curved part 17 c is defined as a long shaft arm 17 a. Another one side having the shorter entire length from the curved part 17 c is defined as a short shaft arm 17 b. In the sun-visor 15 of the present embodiment, part of the long shaft arm 17 a is inserted into a sun-visor body 16.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the short shaft arm 17 b has a step part 20 at the middle thereof, and has a stopper 21 at the tip end thereof. The tip side of the short shaft arm 17 b is inserted into the base 18 for attaching the sun-visor 15 to the roof 3. In this occasion, the step part 20 of the short shaft arm 17 b is directly contacted with the base 18. In the present embodiment, the step part 20 and the stopper 21 are provided for preventing the ups-and-downs directions movement (saccadic movement) of the sun-visor 15.

[0037] In this construction, since the stopper 21 is impelled upwardly by the spring 22, only the slight ups-and-downs directions movement of the shaft 17 is allowed. In other word, the excess saccadic movement of the sun-visor 15 is prevented.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 3, Heat-treatment is given to the region A near the curved part 71 c of the shaft 17. Thus, the strength at the region A becomes weaker than another part of the shaft 17.

[0039] This region A of low strength is provided so that the shaft 17 may be deformed in the region A when the inflatable curtain apparatus 9 is operated. To be more precise, the shaft 17 is deformed in the region A by the force (load) brought out from the inflation of the air bag 11 when the air bag is inflated as a result of the operation of the inflatable curtain apparatus 9.

[0040] In the present embodiment, the region A contains not only the whole curved part 17 but also part of the long shaft arm 17 a and the short shaft arm 17 b, respectively. The region of the long shaft arm 17 a inserted into the sun-visor body 16 and the region of the short shaft arm 17 b inserted into the base 18 are not contained in the region A. In other words, Heat-treatment is not given to the region of the long shaft arm 17 a inserted into the sun-visor body 16 and the region of the short shaft arm 17 b inserted into the base 18.

[0041] The sun-visor 15 is dabbed against the roof 3 at the time of non-using. When using the sun-visor 15 for blocking off the outside light shining from the front direction with respect to the vehicle 1, the sun-visor body 16 of the sun-visor 15 is swung downwardly at predetermined angle around the long shaft arm 17 a. Thereby, the sun-visor body 16 of the sun-visor 15 is placed in the position shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 4. As this, since part of the windshield 26 located between the roof 3 and the instrument panel 25 is covered by the sun-visor body 16, part of the outside light shining from the front direction is blocked off.

[0042] When using this sun-visor 15 for blocking off the outside light shining from side direction with respect to the vehicle 1, the sun-visor 15 is moved from the position shown in the imaginary line shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in the full line of the FIG. 4. At this occasion, this movement is achieved by pivoting the sun-visor body 16 of the sun-visor 15 around the short shaft arm 17 b at the predetermined angle.

[0043] Thereby, since part of the side-window 28 of the side door 27 is covered by the sun-visor body 16, part of the outside light shining from the side direction with respect to the vehicle body 1 is blocked off.

[0044] The explanation about the inflation of the air bag 11 in the case where the air bag 11 is inflated as a result of the side-face impact etc, while the sun-visor body 16 of the sun-visor 15 is locating in the position shown in the full line of FIG. 4.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 4, when the vehicle 1 has had an accident such as side-face impact while the sun-visor body 16 of the sun-visor 15 is locating along the side door 27, and the impact more than the predetermined value is detected by the acceleration sensor 29 and 30, an electronic control unit (ECU) 31 send the startup signal to the inflator 23.

[0046] Since the inflator 23 supplies the gasses to the air bag 11 in response to the startup signal and thus the air bag 11 is inflated, the vulnerable part (not shown) of the cover 10 is ruptured by the inflated air bag 11. Then the air bag 11 burst out from the cover 10 is inflated toward the roof-garnish 14.

[0047] When the air bag 11 is inflated furthermore, the air bag 11 is damped against the roof-garnish 14, and the roof-garnish 14 is pushed to the position shown in the imaginary line of FIG. 2.

[0048] And then, the air bag 11 is inflated into the car cabin in the state of shown in FIG. 5 through both space formed between the roof-garnish 14 and the roof side rail 7 and the space formed between the roof-garnish 14 and the weather-strip 12. And finally, as shown in FIG. 5, the air bag 11 is inflated along the side-window 28 of the side door 27, and protects the occupant of the vehicle from the impact given from the side direction with respect to the vehicle 1.

[0049] During the course of the inflation of the air bag 11, since the roof-garnish 14 displaced by the inflated air bag 11 and the inflated air bag 11 are bumped against the sun-visor body 16 of the sun-visor 15, the force pushing the sun-visor body 16 aside is given to the sun-visor 15.

[0050] At this occasion, since the region A having a lower strength than the other part of the shaft 17 is provided at the vicinity of the curved part 17 c of the shaft 17, the shaft is deformed in the curved part 17 c or the vicinity thereof. Then the sun-visor body 16 is moved downwardly.

[0051] Thereby, since the space for allowing the displacement of the roof-garnish 14 and the inflation of the air bag 11 without restriction is secured, the inflation of the air bag is achieved within the predetermined inflation time irrespective of the location of the sun-visor 15.

Second Preferred Embodiment

[0052] The explanation about the second preferred embodiment of the present invention will be carried out referring to FIG. 6.

[0053] In the following explanation, the components same as explained in the first preferred embodiment are indicated by the same symbol, and the brief explanation thereof is omitted.

[0054] The sun-visor 15 according to the present preferred embodiment has a sun-visor body 16, a shaft 37 inserted into the sun-visor body 16, and a base 18 for rotatably supporting the shaft 37 at the roof 3. The notching part 38 is formed at the curved part 37 c located between the long shaft arm 37 a and the short shaft arm 37 b.

[0055] The notching part 38 is the helical groove formed at the position having a large curvature of the curved part 37 c. As an existence of the notching part 38, the strength of the curved part 37 c becomes weaker than another part of the shaft 37. Thereby, the region of small strength according to the present embodiment is served in the curved part 37 c of the shaft 37.

[0056] When the impact caused by the side-face impact etc., is add to the vehicle 1 while using the sun-visor 15 for blocking off the outside light shining from the side direction, the inflatable curtain apparatus 9 is made into operation. As a result of the operation of the inflatable curtain apparatus 9, since the roof-garnish 14 displaced by the inflation of the air bag and/or the air bag is/are bumped against the sun-visor body 16 of the sun-visor 15, the force pushing the sun-visor body 16 aside is brought out to the sun-visor 15.

[0057] In that occasion, since the strength of the curved part 37 c having the notching part 38 is lower than another part of the shaft 37, the shaft 37 is deformed at the curved part 37 c and the sun-visor 15 is moved downwardly.

[0058] As a result of this movement, since the space for allowing the deformation of the roof-garnish 14 and for allowing the inflation of the air bag 11 are secured, the inflation of the air bag 11 within the predetermined time can be achieved.

[0059] The present invention is not restricted to above-described embodiment, and can be represented with various forms.

[0060] The low strength region of the shaft 17 may be formed anywhere in the part of or all of the region from the exposed part of the long shaft arm 17 a exposing at the notching part 16 a to the step part 20 of the short shaft arm 17 b through the curved part 17 c. In other words, the formation manner, in which the low strength part 17 c is not formed at the curved part 17 c of the shaft 17, can be adopted.

[0061] When the low strength part is provided at these positions, since there is no necessity to deform the sun-visor body 16 and the base 18, the deformation of the sun-visor 15 with small force can be achieved.

[0062] Therefore, the space for allowing the inflation of the air bag 11 can be secured easily. In the sun-visor 15 of this construction, since the stress tends to be concentrated on the curbed part 17 c, if the low strength part is formed at the curved part of the shaft, the shaft is easily deformed. Consequently, in the first and second embodiment, the low strength part is formed at the curved part or near the curved part.

[0063] The formation manner of the low strength part is not restricted to heat-treating or the provision of the notching part. For example, the provision of the through hole to the shaft can be adopted as the formation manner of the low strength part. Furthermore, the formation of the thin thickness part to the shaft as the low strength part can also be adopted. As this, any type of the formation manner can be adopted as long as the regions of different strength for allowing the deformation are formed on the shaft.

[0064] In the present invention, the low strength region having a lower strength than another part of the shaft is provide on the shaft of the sun-visor of the vehicle equipping the occupant restraint system. Therefore, since the shaft is deformed in the low strength region when the air bag is inflated and force is add to the shaft, the space for allowing the inflation of the air bag and the deformation of the roof-garnish can be secured.

[0065] Thus, since the certain inflation of the air bag irrespective of the location of the sun-visor 15 can be achieved, the certain protection of the occupant of the vehicle against the impact given from the side direction with respect to the vehicle can be accomplished.

[0066] In the present invention, furthermore, since the notching part formed at the curved part of the shaft is served as the low strength part, the shaft of the sun-visor can be easily deformed using the stress to be concentrated on the curved part. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sun-visor provided in a vehicle equipping an occupant restraint system for protecting the occupant from the side-impact, said sun-visor comprising; a sun-visor body disposed in a cabin of said vehicle and is used for blocking off the outside light; a shaft, one end of said shaft is rotatably supported at a base fixed to the roof of said vehicle, and another end of said shaft is inserted into said sun-visor body, and said shaft has a curved part on the region exposed from said sun-visor body and said base; and a low strength region provided on about said curved part; whereby said shaft is situated so as to be deformed when said occupant restraint system is operated.
 2. A sun-visor provided in a vehicle equipping an occupant restraint system for protecting the occupant from the side-impact according to claim 1, wherein said low strength region is a notching formed on said curved part of said shaft.
 3. A sun-visor provided in a vehicle equipping an occupant restraint system for protecting the occupant from the side-impact according to claim 1, wherein said low strength region is formed by giving heat treatment on said curved part.
 4. A sun-visor provided in a vehicle equipping an occupant restraint system for protecting the occupant from the side-impact, said sun-visor comprising; a sun-visor body disposed in a cabin of said vehicle and is used for blocking off the outside light; a shaft, one end of said shaft is rotatably supported at a base fixed to the roof of said vehicle, and another end of said shaft is inserted into said sun-visor body; and a low strength part provided on said shaft; whereby said shaft is situated so as to be deformed in said low strength part when said occupant restraint system is operated.
 5. A sun-visor provided in a vehicle equipping an occupant restraint system for protecting the occupant from the side-impact according to claim 3, wherein said low strength part is a notching provided on said shaft.
 6. A sun-visor provided in a vehicle equipping an occupant restraint system for protecting the occupant from the side-impact according to claim 3, wherein said is low strength part is formed by giving heat treatment on said shaft. 